Lowik to Lotto

Gerben Löwik (Vacansoleil) will be riding for Omega Pharma-Lotto next season, the team of recent Tour of Lombardy winner Phillipe Gilbert and World Champion Cadel Evans. The Dutchman was offered an extension on his current contract with the Dutch pro-continental team but chose for the Belgian formation where he will be filling the gap left by Roy Sentjes, who recently announced his move to Team Milram.

Lowik has enjoyed a strong autumn, taking seventh in Paris-Tours and eighth in the Giro del Piemonte, one of the four races won by future teammate Gilbert. Lowik, 32, turned pro with Farm Frites in 2000 and then spent four years with Rabobank before his move to Vacansoleil.